Hello,I am going to be purchasing an amp from decware in the near future. I am entering the world of tube amps and efficient speakers with a budget. The TT I will be purchasing is a pro-ject debut carbon. Doing some research I am hearing about an earthing wire. If I have the decware super zen, how or where would I connect this ground wire, or is it even necessary? Any and all advice is appreciated. Being a newbie to all of this I am trying to gather all info I can before I make the purchases (which I will be doing all at once.Thanks!Mulenut....

Thank you, In reading most if the specs and comments for the 2 watt zen amp, I've gathered that the amp could be run without a preamp. Is there a way to ground the turntable without having to purchase a preamp?

More than just grounding, the turntable needs another component between itself and the amp.

You will need a phono preamp for the turntable to be used. A turntable puts out a very weak signal with a special EQ that needs to be amplified and re-EQ'd (in reverse) before being sent to the amplifier. In this modern age this is most often accomplished in a phono preamplifier. Decware makes one called the ZP3 which is an excellent, okay a fantastic phono preamp. In most cases the turntable is grounded to the phono preamp.

The Zen amp itself does not have a built in phono preamp so one must be used between it and the turntable.

Thanks Lon for steering me in the right direction. The unfortunate side to this is that I am in a strict budget. That being said, do I go for the Rachel? An integrated amp? In addition, I will probably have to go for a different speaker (was set on the Decware DM945). I will be purchasing a new system from amp-TT-power cord-interconnects-speaker cables etc. any suggestions? Would love to have a Decware amp as the centerpiece.

Well yes, the Rachel does sort of have a preamp section in it, but it doesn't have a PHONO preamp within. That is a certain circuit necessary to handle the signal from the phono cartridge and convert it to a "line level" signal such as that from a tape deck, cd player, tuner, etc.

So even with the Rachel you would need a phono preamp, and unfortunately (this would be a nice addition to the line but so far not available) there is not a Decware integrated with a phono section. There is the ZP3, which is a phono preamp and could be used with the Zen amp or the Rachel. And there are many other phono preamps by other manufacturers of varying design and quality.

Here's a page on amazon about phono preamplifiers that may be helpful.

From this page:Unlike line level audio sources you connect to a stereo (DVD/CD players, tape decks, TV audio, minidisc, etc.), the output from a magnetic cartridge installed in a good quality turntable is MUCH lower, and requires an additional stage of amplification to bring it up to the same volume as the other sources you listen to thru your stereo. This additional amp stage, the phono preamp, is built-in to most older receivers and amps, allowing direct connection of a turntable. However, newer stereo equipment (including virtually all mini-systems and home theatre units, as well as many stereo receivers and amps), have NO phono input (this because records and turntables are supposedly obsolete in today's world dominated by CDs and DVDs). In order to utilise the inputs such units DO have (Aux, Tape, Line, Video, CD, etc.) to connect a turntable, you need to first pass the signal thru an external phono preamp to bump the level. The same level increase is needed if you're connecting a turntable to a computer sound card's line input so you can make CD-Rs from LPs; again, the external phono preamp provides it.

Because of limitations in the LP recording process, an equalization curve must be applied to the music or other sonic content prior to it being cut onto vinyl, so as to reduce backround noise and sibilance. Reversing this equalization effect (the RIAA curve) and restoring the music's original frequency response curve during playback is an important part of the phono preamp's job and differentiates it from other preamps used for microphones and musical instruments, which usually provide gain but no other modification of the original sound quality. Proper RIAA re-equalization during playback is a must in faithfully producing the original musical content without coloration or distortion.

Thanks Lon for the great advice! The search continues.....Hoping to stay with Decware at least for the amp. Search for am affordable phono preamp and upgrade later. The info you have given me has been incredibly valuable.Thanks again,Gregg

If you want something truly cheap that will get the job done, though leaving a lot of room for fidelity improvement, this one (especially after a few weeks of use) is not shrill or really thin, decent beginning sound.

I am using this in my Dad's system with a Pyle turntable that is of decent quality. . . a good starter phono set up if you don't have high expectations. I'd say its "sins" are of omission. . . doesn't sound great but doesn't sound horrible and is awfully cheap.

Wow, that is awfully cheap. I'm looking to keep the preamp tube. Looking at a few of the pro-ject models and have seen a few different tube preamps in the $200-250 range and them go from there. What do you think?Gregg

I'll jump in here with another thought. You may be able to find a suitable amp for a few hunded dollars but that's still the loss of a few hundred dollars while you wait for something better. I agree with Lon that the ZP3 is worth saving for. I have a friend with one that I have heard many times and it sounds fabulous.

You might want to consider something that will just work to tide you over.

Oh, I forgot. Reading a few of the comments it seems that the grounding wire if needed to eliminate any hum would just be wrapped around one of the casing screws and tightened down. Not elegant, but hey, look at the price.

On the other hand buying a used piece from Audiogon or Ebay can usually be resold when you're done with it and you can get all or very close to your original outlay back.

Buying and selling used isn't for everyone, but those who turn gear this way have pretty good success.

Lastly, when you start getting close to having the funds check the buy/sell forum here and ask who might be willing to sell a ZP3. You might get lucky and be able to get one somewhat discounted. It would likely be taken care of well with this crowd.

Hey Jam71, thanks for the input. The price is definitely right on that Pyle. My only concern is the sound. I'm going to be ordering the se84ckc within the next few weeks along with the DM945 bookshelf speakers. Will I be sacrificing sound with the Pyle preamp? Tiding me over after my initial purchases will be quite some time. Any thoughts?